Fragaria plant named ‘Florice’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Fragaria x ananassa plant named ‘Florice’ which is characterized by the combination good disease resistance, good fruit set, an abundance of short conical, glossy red berries with firm flesh and a pleasant, sweet yet slightly acidic flavor, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Fragaria x ananassa.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Fragaria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘Florice’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘Florice’ is a seedling selection that resulted from acontrolled pollination breeding program carried out in April on 2013 inEns, Netherlands. The new variety originated as a seedling from thecrossing of Fragaria x ananassa ‘06-095-06’ (unpatented), the seedparent, with Fragaria x ananassa ‘00-113-13’ (unpatented) as the pollenparent. Seed from said cross was harvested, then germinated, and theresulting seedlings were grown to a mature size in order to evaluate fordesirable commercial characteristics. In August of 2014, the inventorfirst observed the claimed Fragaria. The claimed plant was thensubjected to a series of trials from 2014 through 2021 to evaluate thedistinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. In2021, the claimed plant was finally selected as a new and distinctivecultivar.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘Florice’, by way ofrooting stolon cuttings, was first performed in September of 2014 inEns, Netherlands. Through eight subsequent generations, the uniquefeatures of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Florice’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Florice’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Florice’ as a new and distinct Fragaria cultivar:

-   -   1. Fragaria ‘Florice’ exhibits moderately dense foliage and a        relative abundance of stolons; and    -   2. Fragaria ‘Florice’ exhibits good disease resistance; and    -   3. Fragaria ‘Florice’ exhibits good fruit set with an abundance        of berries which maintain fruit size throughout the harvest        season; and    -   4. Fragaria ‘Florice’ exhibits short conical, glossy red        berries; and    -   5. Fragaria ‘Florice’ exhibits berries with firm flesh and a        pleasant, sweet yet slightly acidic flavor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 12-month-old‘Florice’ plant, grown at a commercial greenhouse in Ens, Netherlands.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of‘Florice’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower of‘Florice’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical fruit of‘Florice’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of Fragaria known as ‘Florice’, based upon observations of12-month-old greenhouse-grown plants in 19 cm nursery containers,produced in Ens, Netherlands. Plants were grown on benches in anon-climate-controlled greenhouse, using conventional productionprotocols for Fragaria plants which consisted of drip irrigation withfertigation applications as needed. Biological insect control measureswere utilized in production. Plants were produced with full sun exposureand no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to theplants. Temperatures ranged from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius during the dayand 10 to 18 degrees at night. Observation data was recorded inSeptember of 2021.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Florice’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 edition.

A botanical description of ‘Florice’ and a comparison with the parentplants and the most similar commercial Fragaria cultivar known to theinventor, is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Acaulescent, stoloniferous perennial; with            leaves and inflorescence developing from basal rosettes with            approximately 6 rosettes per pot; no lateral branching is            present.        -   Plant profile.—Flattened globular.        -   Average height.—20.5 cm to the top of the foliar plane; 28.2            cm to the top of the floral plane.        -   Average width.—75.0 cm.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Rate of growth.—Moderately fast growing.        -   Propagation.—Mode of propagation — Asexual propagation is            accomplished by rooting stolon cuttings. Time to initiate            roots — Rooting is initiated in approximately 10 days when            grown with an ambient average temperature of 18 degrees            Celsius. Time to produce a marketable rooted cutting —            Approximately 35 days to produce a rooted cutting. Time to            produce a marketable containerized plant — Approximately 9            months to produce a marketable plant in a 13 cm nursery            container.        -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Excellent resistance to            Phytophthora cactorum root rotting disease, but otherwise            the claimed plant is not any more or less tolerant or            susceptible to pests or diseases known to effect Fragaria x            ananassa.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to USDA Zones 4 through 9            and temperatures ranging from at least minus −32 degrees            Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius; low to moderate tolerance to            rain; moderate to high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   Type.—Moderately fibrous root system, with adventitious            rooting at stolon nodes.        -   Branching.—Very freely branched.        -   Density.—Moderately dense.        -   Distribution.—The majority of the root system is somewhat            shallow.        -   Diameter.—Largest roots measuring 1.0 mm in diameter.        -   Texture.—Smooth; lacking root hairs.        -   Color.—White, RHS 155B.-   Stolons:    -   -   Attitude.—Prostrate.        -   Aspect.—Rounded.        -   Length.—85.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Internode length.—19.8 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Sparsely covered with short hairs; average length            of hairs is 0.075 cm; colored translucent white, nearest to            nearest to RHS NN155D.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Color, immature stolons.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.        -   Color, mature stolons.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS N144C.        -   Color, immature stolons.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS N144C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Attitude.—Upward and outward.        -   Division.—Trifoliate.        -   Compound leaf outline.—Reniform.        -   Length.—16.2 cm, excluding the petiole.        -   Width.—19.8 cm.        -   Quantity.—6 leaves per rosette.        -   Leaflets.—Quantity — 3. Shape — Varying from broad ovate to            broad obovate to near orbicular. Length —11.0 cm. Width —            10.0 cm. Aspect — Slightly concave. Apex — Very abruptly            acute. Base — Broadly attenuate. Margin — Coarsely serrate            to crenate. Texture, adaxial surface — Slightly rugose and            sparely covered with thin, soft hairs with an average length            of 0.1 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to nearest            to RHS NN155D. Texture, abaxial surface — Slightly rugose            and glabrous except for the veins which are moderately            covered with very thin, soft adpressed hairs with an average            length of 0.075 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest            to nearest to white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster, adaxial            surface — Very slightly glossy. Luster, abaxial surface —            Matte. Color — Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface —            Green, nearest to RHS 143A. Juvenile foliage color, abaxial            surface — Green, nearest to RHS 138B. Mature leaf color,            adaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of green and            yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A yet closest to RHS NN137A.            Mature leaf color, abaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of            green and greyed-green, RHS 138B and 191A. Venation — Type —            Pinnate. Vein color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest            to RHS 144A. Vein color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to in between RHS N144D and 145A.        -   Petiole.—Length — 29.3 cm. Diameter — 0.4 cm. Strength —            Strong. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Sparsely to            moderately covered with thin strigose hairs with an average            length of 0.2 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to            RHS NN155D. Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Slightly            glossy. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to            RHS 144A. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to            RHS 144A.        -   Stipules.—General — Two leafy stipules present at the base            of each leaf. Shape — Narrow deltoid. Length — Average of            3.8 cm. Width — Average of 0.8 cm. Apex — Narrowly acute.            Base — Broad cuneate. Aspect — Folded. Color, adaxial            surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 145A and            145B. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in            between RHS 145A and 145B. Texture, adaxial surface —            Glabrous. Texture, abaxial surface — Covered with soft hairs            with an average length of 0.15 cm; hairs are a translucent            white, nearest to RHS NN155D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Compound cymose panicle, generally referred to as a            truss.        -   Natural flowering season.—From spring into summer in Ens,            Netherlands.        -   Time to flower.—9 months.        -   Length.—8.5 cm, including the peduncle.        -   Diameter.—5.9 cm.        -   Quantity of open flowers per inflorescence.—6.        -   Quantity of buds per inflorescence.—5.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—100.        -   Peduncle.—Length — 16.1 cm. Diameter — 0.3 cm. Aspect — At            an average angle of 70 degrees to horizontal. Strength —            Moderately strong to strong. Texture — Densely covered with            thin, soft hairs with an average length of 0.2 cm; hairs are            a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster —            Slightly glossy. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—Average of 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average of 0.9 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous with the exception of the            immature sepals which are moderately covered with thin, soft            hairs with an average length of 0.05 cm; hairs are a            translucent green-white, nearest to RHS 157D.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Color.—Green-white, nearest to RHS 1578; immature sepals are            green, nearest to RHS 138C.-   Flower:    -   -   Form.—Rotate; single.        -   Aspect.—Upright and outward.        -   Flower diameter.—3.0 cm.        -   Flower depth.—1.5 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately sweet fragrance.        -   Flowering habit.—Moderately free-flowering.        -   Lastingness.—Approximately 7 days.        -   Persistent.—Self-cleaning.        -   Pedicels.—Length — 4.1 cm. Diameter — 0.15 cm. Aspect —            Upward; approximately 45 degrees to the peduncle axis.            Strength — Moderately strong. Texture — Densely covered with            thin, soft strigose hairs with an average length of 0.2 cm;            hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster            — Slightly glossy. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS            144B.        -   Petals.—Arrangement — Rotate with a single whorl of free            petals. Quantity of Petals — 5 and occasionally 6. Shape —            Near orbicular. Length — 1.2 cm. Width — 1.2 cm. Apex —            Obtuse. Base — Broad cuneate. Margin — Entire; slightly            undulated. Aspect — Very slightly concave. Texture and            luster of upper surface — Glabrous; moderately velvety;            matte. Texture and luster of lower surface — Glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte. Petal color when opening, upper            surface — White, nearest to RHS NN155B. Petal color when            opening, lower surface — White, nearest to RHS NN155B. Petal            color when fully opened, upper surface — White, nearest to            RHS NN155B. Petals do not fade with age. Petal color when            fully opened, lower surface — White, nearest to RHS NN155B.            Petals do not fade with age. Petal venation color, fully            opened, upper surface — Veins are not visible. Petal            venation color, fully opened, lower surface — Veins are not            visible.        -   Calyx.—Shape — Rotate. Length — 1.0 cm. Diameter — 3.2 cm.            Sepals — Arrangement — Rotate with sepals in a single whorl            and fused at the base. Quantity — 12. Length — 1.4 cm. Width            — 0.5 cm. Shape — Ovate to oblong. Apex — Varying from acute            to trilobed with acute lobe apices. Base — Fused. Sepal lobe            margin — Entire; not undulated. Texture, upper surface —            Sparsely covered with thin, soft hairs with an average            length of 0.075 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest            to nearest to RHS NN155D. Texture, lower surface —            Moderately covered with thin, soft hairs with an average            length of 0.1 cm; hairs are a translucent green-white,            nearest to nearest to 157D. Luster, adaxial surface — Matte.            Luster, abaxial surface — Matte. Color when opening, upper            surface — Green, nearest to RHS 137B. Color when opening,            lower surface — Green, nearest to RHS 138B. Color when fully            opened, upper surface — Green, nearest to in between RHS            NN137A and NN137B; base is lighter, nearest to RHS 138A.            Color when fully opened, lower surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 138A.        -   Bracts.—Position — Two bracts are present at the base of            each pedicel. Shape — Narrow elliptic to narrow ovate.            Aspect — Carinate. Length — 2.5 cm. Width — 0.8 cm. Apex —            Narrow acuminate. Base — Attenuate. Margins — Carinate.            Color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137B.            Color, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to in between RHS            138A and 138B. Texture, adaxial surface — Sparsely covered            with thin, soft hairs with an average length of 0.075 cm;            colored a translucent white, nearest to nearest to RHS            NN155D. Texture, abaxial surface — Moderately covered with            thin, soft hairs with an average length of 0.1 cm; hairs are            a translucent green-white, nearest to RHS 157D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Approximately 25. Anthers — Attachment —            Basifixed. Shape — Oblong. Length — 0.05 cm. Width —            0.05 cm. Color — Yellow-orange, nearest to RHS 14A.            Filaments — Length — Approximately 0.2 cm. Color —            Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150B. Pollen, abundance —            Sparse. Pollen, color — Yellow, nearest to in between RHS            13B and 13C.        -   Pistil.—Quantity — 150. Length — 0.1 cm. Style — Length —            0.09 cm. Color — Green-yellow, nearest to RHS 1B. Stigma —            Shape — Club-shaped. Length — 0.03 cm. Diameter — 0.03 cm.            Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 153D.        -   Ovary color.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B.-   Seed and fruit:    -   -   Fruit.—Harvest Season — July through September in the            Netherlands. Time to maturity — Approximately 5 weeks after            flowering. Quantity — An average of 100 per plant.            Dimensions — 3.6 cm long and 3.9 cm in diameter. Weight —            17.0 grams, on average. Shape — Short conical. Texture —            Moderately covered with very short, soft hairs with an            average length of 0.04 cm; hairs are a translucent            greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Luster — Glossy. Color —            Immature fruit — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145D yet            lighter. Immature flesh — Green-white, nearest to RHS 157D.            Mature fruit — Red, nearest to RHS 46A. Mature flesh — Red,            nearest to RHS 46C. Fruit flavor — Sweet and slightly            acidic. Firmness of flesh — Firm. Lastingness of fruit —            Approximately 1 week. Market use — Fresh fruit market.        -   Achenes.—Position — Below the fruit surface. Quantity of            achenes per fruit — Approximately 150. Shape — Flattened;            outline is ovate. Length — 0.125 cm. Diameter — 0.08 cm.            Texture — Smooth; glabrous. Color — Greyed-orange, nearest            to in between RHS 164A and 164B.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Florice’ may be distinguished from its seedparent, Fragaria x ananassa ‘06-095-06’ (unpatented), by thecharacteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Florice’ ‘06-095-06’ Foliage abundance. Moreabundant than ‘06- Less abundant than 095-06’. ‘Florice’. Quantity ofstolons. More than ‘06-095-06’. Fewer than ‘Florice’. Position ofachenes Level with the fruit Above the fruit surface. on the fruit.surface. Fruit taste. A pleasant blend of sweet A pleasant blend ofsweet and sour, with sweetness and sour, with sourness being the moredominant being the more dominant flavor. flavor.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Florice’ may be distinguished from itspollen parent, Fragaria x ananassa ‘00-113-13’ (not patented), by thecharacteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Florice’ ‘00-113-13’ Foliage abundance. Moreabundant than ‘00- Less abundant than 113-13’. ‘Florice’. Quantity ofstolons. More than ‘00-113-13’. Fewer than ‘Florice’. Position ofachenes Level with the fruit Above the fruit surface. on the fruit.surface. Fruit taste. A pleasant blend of sweet A pleasant blend ofsweet and sour, with sweetness and sour, with sourness being the moredominant being the more dominant flavor. flavor.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMMERCIAL COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Florice’ may be distinguished from the mostsimilar known commercial comparator, Fragaria x ananassa ‘FlorinFlorentina’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 40665), by thecharacteristics described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘Florice‘ ‘Florin Florentina’ Foliage abundance.More abundant than Less abundant than ‘Florin Florentina’. ‘Florice’.Quantity of stolons. More than ‘Florin Fewer than ‘Florice’.Florentina’. Position of achenes Level with the fruit Above the fruitsurface. on the fruit. surface. Fruit taste. A pleasant blend of sweet Apleasant blend of sweet and sour, with sweetness and sour, with sournessbeing the more dominant being the more dominant flavor. flavor.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Fragaria xananassa plant named ‘Florice’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.